News Archives

BBC Sounds continues to grow in Q3 2024

29/10/2024

BBC Sounds continues to grow in Q3 2024 with 622 million plays of all content across radio, podcasts and music mixes. There were over 622 million plays of all content across radio, podcasts and music mixes in this quarter (July – Sept 2024). This is up 14 million plays on the previous quarter and an increase of more than 3% from the same period last year, as digital listening continues to grow. The busiest week of […]

French music sales grew 5.9% in first half of 2024

28/10/2024

French music sales grew 5.9% in first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year according to figures released by SNEP, the French music industry association. Total sales were €415 million with physical sales down 6.8%% and digital sales up 9.6%. The volume of downloading remains stable but marginal with barely more than 1% of total turnover. First half of 2024 highlights Physical sales are falling again (-6.8%) after a cyclical surge in the first half of 2023. […]

Create custom cover art for Spotify playlists

27/10/2024

Create custom cover art for Spotify playlists with a beta rollout on the mobile app in English in 65 countries. Currently listeners have created over 8 Bn playlists covering every kind of musical mood and milestone in their life. The new feature offers both Free and Premium users the ability to create their own cover art with unique images, colours and text effects, graphic elements, and more, allowing them to make their music playlists more […]

Music revenues in Europe are 39% below 2001 levels

25/10/2024

Music revenues in Europe are 39% below 2001 levels according to a recent report by IFPI, the organisation representing record companies worldwide, which looked at recorded music in the European Union. The report, Music in the EU: A Global Opportunity, explores the ways in which the work and investment of record companies is helping to drive the success of European music and artists, both domestically and internationally, whilst providing insight into the challenges and opportunities […]

BBC commissions new shows for BBC Sounds

25/10/2024

BBC commissions new shows for BBC Sounds music streams, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind. Following highly competitive commissioning rounds, a raft of production teams across the audio sector and different parts of the UK have secured shows on the new music streams for BBC Sounds, launching in early November. Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, BBC says, “Our new music extensions provide invaluable creative opportunities for the audio sector to win more commissions, and […]

Qobuz expands its streaming service into Japan

24/10/2024

Qobuz expands its streaming service into Japan its twenty-sixth country and since its launch in the US in 2019, the company has opened in 15 new countries in the last four years. The company’s move into Japan follows the acquisition of e-onkyo music in 2021. While streaming dominates the global music market with over 67% of revenue, Japan presents a unique landscape where the physical market still accounts for over 50% of sales. Paid streaming, […]

UK music exports reach record high in 2023

21/10/2024

UK music exports reach record high in 2023 to £775 million driven a range of UK talent according to new figures released by the BPI. Representing the highest level of annual exports since the BPI began its yearly survey of label overseas income in 2000 (£364m) and more than treble the amount of a decade ago in 2013 (£243m), the record figure came in a year that saw a wide range of UK musicians and groups […]